Spinal Cord Compression Flashcards Preview

Neurology > Spinal Cord Compression > Flashcards

Flashcards in Spinal Cord Compression Deck (17)
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1
Q

What are the causes of acute spinal cord compression?

A

trauma; tumours- haemorrhage or collapse of vertebra; infection; spontaneous haemorrhage

2
Q

What are the causes of chronic spinal cord compression?

A

degenerative disease-spondylosis; tumours and RA

3
Q

What is cord transection?

A

complete lesion- all motor and sensory modalities affected

4
Q

What is spinal shock?

A

initially a flaccid arreflexic paralysis

5
Q

When do UMN signs appear after cord transection?

A

later after spinal shock

6
Q

What is seen with Brown-Sequard syndrome?

A

ipsilateral motor and DC level; contralteral spinothalamic sensory level

7
Q

What causes central cord syndrome?

A

hyperflexion or extension injury to already stenotic neck

8
Q

What are the signs of central cord syndrome?

A

predominantly distal upper limb weakness; cape-like spinothalamic sensory loss

9
Q

Why are the upper limbs afffect more than the lower limbs?

A

upper limb areas are found more medial to the lower limb tracts

10
Q

What is the difference between chronic and acute spinal cord compression?

A

UMN signs predominate inchronic spinal cord compression

11
Q

What is the usually extradural tumour?

A

usually metastasis

12
Q

Where are the common primaries for bone tumours?

A

lung; breast; kidney and prostate

13
Q

What are the common intradural extramedullary tumours?

A

meningioma; schwannoma;

14
Q

What are the common intradural intramedullary tumours?

A

astrocytoma; ependymoma

15
Q

What happens in spinal stenosis?

A

osteophyte formation; bulging of IV discs; facet joint hypertrophy; subluxation

16
Q

What are the causes of epidural abscesses?

A

blood-borne staph; TB; surgery or trauma

17
Q

What is the principle of treatment for spinal degenerative disease?

A

decompress and stabilise